Athlete&#39;s headgear



Jan. 15, 1957 M. T. MARIETTA ATHLETES HEADGEAR Filed Nov. 5, 1954 INVENTOR Miclzael TMarieifa BY W M AGEN 7' ATHLETES HEADGEAR Michael T. Marietta, Dallas, Tex. Application November 5, 1954, Serial No. 467,037

Claims. (Cl. 2-3) This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants prior application 398,322, filed December 15,. 1953, for Athletes Headgear.

This application relate-s to athletes headgear and has for an object the provision of a headgear comprising a unitary helmet and mask structure incorporating a reinforcement assuring the integral connection of helmet and mask. The headgear further includes a cover for closing an opening in the rear of the helmet-mask unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sturdy athletes headgear which may be manufactured at low cost and attached to and detached from the wearers head by the athlete himself with a minimum of effort and inconvenience.

With these objects in view and others which may be come apparent as the invention is fully understood, the same resides in the arrangement, combination and construction of elements hereinafter fully and specifically described and the subject matter which applicant regards as his invention or discovery is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the appended claims.

The specification should be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming part of theapplication and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective of the preferred embodi' ment of applicants invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section viewed rearwardly.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section in or parallel to the plane of symmetry.

In the drawing in which like characters of reference denote like or similar elements, numeral 5 denotes a combined helmet-and-mask including an upper domeshaped part with ventilating openings 7.

The ears of the wearer are each housed in outwardly bulging portions 9 of generally frusto-conical shape (Fig. 3) including flat platelike members each with a centrally disposed hearing hole 11.

The mask element proper is composed of a chinguard 13 with holes 14. In the chinguard 13 and the cheeks and nose covering apertured part 14 is embedded a reinforcement member 15, preferably of steel, which terminates in loops 17, each embedded in the fiat platelike member of an ear-covering portion 9. The front or face part of the reinforcement has an aperture registering with the mouth opening 19 of the mask. A single eye opening 21 separates the upper mask edge from the lower edge of the forehead-covering part of the helmet.

The helmet has at the rear 21 symmetrically-situated rccess 23 open at its lower end. This recess can be closed nited States Patent the securing means comprise a buckle and straps .con-

by a curved cover 25 the inner surface of which is concave. The edge portion of the helmet, bounding the inner and upper end of recess '23, and the upper edge of cover 25 are each provided with a plurality of lacing holes 27, each lined by an eyelet 29. A lacing 31 is threaded through the eyelets and holes and may be secured therein by a knot of the ends and functions as a hinge for the cover.

In order to secure the cover in'the recess, a buckle 33 is attached to one end of a strap, the other end of which is fastened to the outer surface of the coveradjacent the lower end of each lateral edge thereof by a rivet 35 (Fig. 3). The outer end portion of a second strap 37 can be laced throughand held by the buckle and the other or" inner end portion of the strap passes through a sl0t 39 in the lower end'of each marginal helmet portion, bounding the recess, and is fastened on the inner helmet surface by a rivet 35 (Figs. 2, 3).

The mask and helmet and cover may be madeof material, particularly plastic, or leather.

The athlete can with ease put his head beneath the raised cover hinged to the helmet and through the recess into the helmet and thereafter buckle the cover to the tural modifications may be resorted to Without, however,

departing from the spirit of my invention as longv as the changes made come Within the scope of my invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

What I claim is: 1. In an athlete's headgear the combination comprising a one-piece mask and helmet having at its rear a I recess, a cover hingedly connected to the helmet for movement to and from a position closing the recess and operable means fastened in part to the helmet and in part to the cover for securing the cover'to the helmet in recess: covering position.

2. The combination according to claiml and wherein the securing means comprise a buckle and'straps cooperating therewith.

3. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein the hinge comprises holes in the hehnet margin surrounding the recess and in the cover margin adjacent thereto and a lacing threaded through the holes. 1

4-. The combination according to claim 3' and wherein necting therewith.

5. In an athletes headgear the combination comprise ing a one-piece mask and helmet including outwardly bulging eancovering portion and a recess in the rear helmet part, a metal reinforcement embedded in the mask part and terminating in loops embedded in the earcovering portions, and a cover fitting the recess and hinged to the helmet and attachable thereto for closing the recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,716,550 Hart June 11, 1929 2,282,830 Scudder et a1. May 12, 1942 2,777,12? Patented Jan. 15, 

